Finlay, Gilbert Hunter (1868-1937)

Gilbert Hunter Finlay was born on November 15, 1868, in Goderich, Ontario. His father was James Hunter Finlay, who was born on September 3, 1838, in Edinburgh, Scotland; James died on June 21, 1897, in Wellington County, Ontario. Gilbert’s mother was Clara Mary Gross, who was born on August 8, 1844, in England. Clara died on July 2, 1906. James and Clara were buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park, Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario.

In 1891, Gilbert was living in Guelph. By January 3, 1895, after he had moved to British Columbia, he married Mary Lilian Philpot in Vancouver. (The marriage certificate said that his residence was in Guelph.)

Mary Philpot was born on April 12, 1867 in Presteigne, Wales [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presteigne]. Her father was Harvey John Philpot (1833-1913), a physician and surgeon; her mother was Caroline Ritchie (1839-1922). Mary had two sisters who also married residents of the West of Denman area: Letitia Madeleine Philpot married Henry Hume Morris (1833 Haro Street: 1903-1920); Mabel Margaret Philpot married Verschoyle Francis Cronyn (1932 Alberni Street: 1906-1909).

By 1899, Gilbert Finlay was an accountant in Vancouver, working for Walter A. Anderson & Co., who were general commission merchants. He was living at 1656 West Georgia Street, which was Harvey Philpot’s home.

In 1901, Gilbert and Mary had moved to 1932 Alberni Street. In 1902, Gilbert was manager of W.A. Ward Ltd., who were shipping, commission and insurance agents. In 1903, he was operating a similar business under his own name. In 1904, he was an accountant for Harry Jacobs, a cigar wholesaler, and he had moved back to 1656 West Georgia Street.

Gilbert disappeared from the Vancouver directories from 1905 to 1913. In 1910, the family was living in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

In 1914, Gilbert was a clerk for Evans, Coleman & Evans in Vancouver; he was living on Douglas Road at Burnaby Lake. By 1920, Gilbert and Mary were again living in Oak Park.

By 1930, Gilbert and Mary were back in Vancouver, living at 1519 West 37 Ave., where they stayed until Gilbert died on March 4, 1937.

Mary died in Vancouver on May 21, 1953.

Gilbert Finlay and Mary had two children

Telfair Allan Hunter Finlay

Allan was born on August 29, 1897 in Guelph, Ontario. He served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, and later became a structural engineer.

On September 6, 1928, Allan married Mabel Christian Honeyman. She was born on April 3, 1897, in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Her father was John James Honeyman, an architect (1864-1934); her mother was Mabel Harriet Dempster (1864-1947).

Allan died on May 5, 1975, in Vancouver.

Mabel died in Vancouver on September 11, 1979.

Guy Bothwick (or Borthwick) Finlay

Guy was born in Vancouver on July 20, 1899. He was an accountant and bank clerk. He served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

In 1923, he went to live in the United States. In 1930, he was living in Oak Park, Illinois.

On July 22, 1932, in Vancouver, he married Norah Helen Honeyman. She was the sister of Mabel Honeyman, who married Guy’s brother, Allan. Norah was born on June 21, 1900, in Rossland, British Columbia.

In 1940, Guy, Norah, and their son, Geoffrey, were living in Highland Park, Illinois. Guy was an accountant.

On February 26, 1941, while living in Highland Park, Illinois, Guy became a naturalized US citizen.

Interior of All Saints’ Anglican Church, 1866, A black and white photograph of the interior of All Saints’ Anglican Church, Whitby. In this photograph, the interior of the church is decorated for the wedding of James Hunter Finlay and Clara Mary Gross, October 4, 1866, http://images.ourontario.ca/whitby/53803/data?n=2

“Gilbert Finlay Dead,” Vancouver Sun, May 5, 1937, page 2: “Funeral services for Gilbert Hunter Finlay, 68, of 1519 West Thirty-seventh Avenue, who died at his home Thursday, will be conducted in Cednter & Hanna’s Chapel at 1:30 pm. Saturday. Rev. C.C. Owen will officiate and cremation will take place. Mr. Finlay, born in Goderich, Ont., came to Vancouver in 1895. He is survived by his wife, two sons, Allan, Vancouver and Guy B., Chicago, and one brother, Henry A., Chicago.